Teaching professional Daril Pacinella, is a certified TPI Fitness Instructor and is the director of instruction at his academy located at Longhi’s Golf Facility in Southwick.

He has been a golf professional for more than 30 years and was nominated as part of Golf Magazine’s Top 100 instructors in America.

Daril’s weekly "Question and Answer" series will appear each Thursday at www.masslive.com/golf. Pacinella is the host of “In the Bunker with Daril Pacinella” each Friday from 4-5 p.m. on Springfield’s ESPN affiliate WHLL 1450 AM, and his web site is www.darilpacinellagolfacademy.com

This week's question:

Hi Daril

My name is Marie and I'm having problems with my chipping. When I get near the green I always skull my chips, what am I doing wrong? Can you please help me fix this?

Thanks

Marie S.,
Westfield, Mass.

Hi Marie,

When people skull their chips, its from the breaking down of the left wrist which causes the club head to beat your hands at impact which causes you to hit the ball on the upswing.

This is how I fix this problem. I want you to take a narrow stance and play the ball off the inside of your right foot. Place your weight more to the forward leg ( left leg for a right handed golfer ) now lean the club so the butt end of the club points towards your left hip. Your now in a good setup position to hit your chip. Now take a club and place it about 8 inches behind the ball, (if you drew a straight line towards your target the club you lay down behind the ball will form a T).

I want you to take the clubhead over the club laying on the ground on your backswing and your downswing, if you do this correctly without hitting the club laying on the ground you will be striking the ball with a descending blow which will cause the ball to pop up in the air. Work this drill and your skulls will go away...

Have fun and enjoy the game.

Daril

Send your golf questions to Daril and if he answers yours, it will be published on the masslive.com website every Thursday in the golf section of the sports page. The article will also be read live on Daril's radio show '' In the Bunker " with Daril on ESPN radio 1450 am the Hall on Fridays from 4:00 to 5:00. In addition you will receive a dozen golf balls from Callaway compliments of Mike Perreault.